Reclining chair



1931. v E. M. KNABUSCH ET-AL 37 RECLINING CHAIR Filed Jan. 24, 1929 s Sheds- Sheet 1 Jan. 20, 1931; EM. NAausc ETAL 1,789,337

' RECLINING CHAIR "Filed Jan. 24, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 l v I Zlwoentox fla /m QYZYQzaMm/z a nd attozmq Jan. 20, 1931.

E. M. KNABUSCH ET AL RECLINING CHAIR Filed Jan. 24, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 .FF K: I L

Fig [-11 I Zlwuenkoz dara/zd 7353 4174010? mad fi m fzaema/m "of the chair, will operate Patented Jan. 20, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT; OFFICE EDWARD M. KNABUSCH AND nnwm J. srrornvmxnn, or MONROE, MICHIGAN, AS-

SIGNORS TO FLORAL-CITY FURNITURE COMPANY, OF MONROE, MICHIGAN, A COR- PORATION or MICHIGAN,

' RECLINING CHAIR Application filed January 24, 1929. Serial No. 334,630.

Our invention has for its obj ect-to provide a cushioned chair ha ving a swinging back that is so constructed as to prevent the cushioned surface of the backfrom dragging the clothes of the user, located on or against the back of the chair, as the back is swung forward or backward relative to the seat. The invention also has for its object to provide in suchv a chair supporting parts for the back and seat that the back, by pressure but slightly greater than that of the pressure produced'in normal resting of the back of the user against the back of the chair at any position of the back to swing the back of the chair backward and any pressure, slightly less than that of the pressure produced in normal restingof the back of the 7 same time,

, becomes less and of the chair,

user against the back of the chair, will cause {he back of the chair to swing forward, whereu pright or reclining positions and at the the clothes of the user of the chair will not be slid up or gathered at points of his back, nor will his clothes be drawn downward relative to his back either when the user reclines or sits upright. Our invention thus provides an exceedingly comfortable chair that is readily adjusted to any desired position or inclination of the back relative to the seat, by merely varying the pressure on the back to slightly less or slightly greater than the normalv pressure due to the weight of the trunk of the body of the user thereof, notwithstanding the variability of such normal pressure, which is due to the change of the angle of the back to the vertical, that is, the gravity line of the trunk of the user, and is due to the variation of the part of the weight of the body of the user supported by the back as the angle of the back is changed, part of the weight of the trunk being supported by the seat, which part less as the user reclines, the other part of the weight of the trunk supported by the back, increasing also as the user reclines.

The invention may be contained in furniture of different forms and, to illustrate a practical application of the. invention, we have selected a reclinable upholstered chair theuser may readily change the chair to' angle bars 6 may as illustrative of the various embodiments of our nvention and shall describe the chair hereinafter. The chair referred to is shown in the accompanying drawings.

' Fi 1 islaiperspective view of the exterior of t e chair, the controlling parts being quite entirely covered by the upholstering material. Fig. 2 is a side viewfof the controlling parts, the chair'itself being shown in dotted lines and indicating the relation of the parts to each other and to the chair. Fig.

3 is a view of a section of side parts of two frames that formsupporting frames for the back and is taken on the plane of the line 3-3 indicated in Fig. 1. Fi l is a view similar to that shown in Fig. 2,tl1e parts being shown in position when the back is in a semi-reclined position. Fig. 5 illustrates the relative positions of the body of the user to the parts of the chair and particularly to the controlling parts. Fig.6 is an end view of the link mechanism connectin the seat to the supporting frame. Fig. 7 illustrates an'end view of one of the links that interconnect one of the frames of the back to the supporting frame.

In the particular form of construction shown in the drawings, the seat 1 and the back 2 of the chair 3 are upholstered and cushionedand are formed of framesfor containing or supporting springs and for receiving tacks for securing the upholstering material in the manner well known inthe art. The seat l'may be provided with a pair of side angle bars 5 located along the lower edge of the frame of the seat.

be located on the frame of along the upper edge of the sides of the frame that are located substantially at the level of the upper edge of the seat and the frames of the chair and the seat are interlinked by the links 7 The links 7 may be formed integral by bending the bars 8 that extend. beneath the frame of the seat and then outwardly to form the engaging end parts 9. The bars 8 may extend through the angle irons 5 and the end parts of-the bars may extend through the angle bars- 6. Suitable securing pins 10 may be located inthe ends 9 of the bars 8 to prevent the end parts of the bars 8 from slipping from the angle the chair, preferably,

Also, a pair of side.

bars 6. When the back of the chair is upright, or substantially so, the links 7 are in vertical position. This position is the normal position of the chair. It is the location when the weight of the body of the user is uite entirely supported by the seat. When the chair is reclined, the links 7 are swung forward, which moves the seat forward and, by reason of the link connections 7 the seat is carried upward.

The back of the chair is formed of two frames 15 and 16. The frame 15 is the frame that is upholstered and is constructed to receive springs and for securing the upholstering and covering material of the chair. The frame 15 is slidably supported onthe frame 16, which is hingedly connected to the seat member of the chair by means of the hinges 17. The frame 16 is connected to the frame of the chair, such as to theunder side of the arms 21, by means of the links 20. The links 20 are located so as to be covered as by a suitable upholstering material. A plate 22 is secured to the frame 16 and is pivotally connected to the link 20 and a bracket 23 is connected to each arm 21 and one end of each link 20 is pivoted in one of the brackets 23. When, therefore, the back of the chair is swung relative to the axis through the hinges 17, theseat member is moved forward or back according to the direction of movement of the back of the chair. The end of the link 20 that is connected to the bracket 22 operates as a fulcrum and pressure against the upper part of the back of the chair causes the lower end of the frame 16 to swing the seat member forward on the links 7. This, however, causes an upward movement of the seat member. The relation and interconnection of the parts of the frame 16, the links 20, the links 7, the seat member 1 and the supporting frame of the chair, are such that as the back is swung back at different angles, the seat is raised by the links 7 to locate their lower ends at points more remote from the verticalthrough their supported upper ends and so that the weight of the portion of the body supported by the seat member 1 and the weight of the body supported by the back member 2, counterbalance each other notwithstanding the changes in pressure due to the changes in position of the body of the user as the back is swung. To increase the angle between the seat member 1 and the back member 2, a pressure, slightly greater than the normal pressure due to the wei ht of the part of the body against the bac is easily applied by the user to the back which moves the back angularly rearwardly towards the horizontal. When this additional pressure is discontinued, the parts counterbalance each other and remain in position in which they have been placed. When it is desired to locate the back in an upright position, the trunk of the body of the user is slightly raised from the back, or the 'fines of the upholstering material pressure on the back is reduced below that of the normal due to the weight, and the weight on the seat will raise the back until the pressure on the back again reaches the normal which occurs at the angle to which it has been moved, whereupon the back will retain that angle relative to the seat. Thus, by our invention, the seat is so sup orted and the back is so connected, that the c air may readily changed to any position.

The frame of the seat is, moreover, connected by a link 30 to the frame 15 of the back. The seat member 1 may be provided with a pair of brackets 31 that extend from the angle bar 5 to which they may be riveted. The brackets 31 extend to a point near the upper edge of the frame of the seat and the links 30-are pivotally connected to then per ends of the brackets 31 by means of the rivets nected to the sides of the frame 15 by means of suitable bolts or screws 33. The effective length of the links 30 is the distance between the ivot points 32 and 33, but the link 30 is, per erabl bent to form parts at an angle to each other, substantially as shown, in order that the link 30 may be located within the c0nand thus may be completely enclosed within the upholstering material. The forward end of the link,

30 is located near the forward end of the seat member of the chair, while the rear end of the link 30 is located near the lower end of the frame 15 and the lower end of the frame 15 is located a short distance from the lower end of the frame 16. The point of connection of the link 30 with the frame 15 is such that when the said point is located over the axis of the hinges 17 the back of the chair would be in a vertical position and the lower ends of the links 7 will be slightly raised and extend rearwardly and the link 30 will form an angle of about 60 degrees with the frame 15. The normal position of the back is slightly inclined and the normal position of the links 7 is the vertical. When the back swings backwards on the axis of the hinges 17 the frame 15 slides towards the seat member 1. It slides along the frame 16 as the two sides of the triangle, formed between the hinges 17 and the pivot points 33 and 32, approach the side of the triangle between the points 32 and 33. The side between the pivot point 33 and the hinge 17 is shortened, and is shortenedat the same rate as the clothes of the wearer at the back approach the hip joints of the user of the chair as the user of the chair bends backward and so that the surfaces of the depressed cushions of the back will not cause the clothing on the back of the user to be drawn upon or gathered at points along his back, such as below the arm pits. When on the other hand, the user leans forward from a reclining position and the back follows this u ward movement, the back member will be raised so The opposite ends of the links are conthat theupholstering material on the surface of the back will move upward substantially I with the clothin of the user and thus dragging of the clothing of the user is-agalnprevented.

' When no one is in the chair, it maybe desirable to maintain the back of the chair in the upri htposition. The. seat is not tion of the device as described above for obviously the tendency to return by reason of the weight ofthe person on the seat member, when thelinks 7 are swung from the vertical, predominates to maintain the seat in counterbalancing relation against the pressure on the back. Also, if desired, a friction device 36 may be located on the supporting frame. of the chair and on some part of the seat member 1. In the form of construction shown, a spring 37 is connected to the supporting frame of the chair, while a knob 38, that is elastically engaged by the spring 37, is located near the forward edge of t e frame of the seat member, whereby momentary frictional enga ment between the two may be used to ie dingly resist the rearward movement the back member. This is also for the purpose of providing a temporary resistance for, in the use of chairs, one moves back and forth when in an upright position and in order to free the chair from this unintentional ressure, a slightly greater pressure than t at required to further tilt the chair is necessary in order to liberate the chair from its starting position. Thereafter, the parts of the chair are moved by a slightly greater or slightly lesser pressure than that normally produced by the weights of the parts of the bod on the parts, respectively, of the chair, as escribed above.

We claim:

1. In a chair, a supporting frame, a seat member, links interconnecting the seat member with the supportin frame, a back frame hingedly connected to t e seat member, links interconnecting the back frame to the supporting frame, a back member slidably supported on the back frame, and links inter-I connecting the back member with the seat member.

2. In a chair, a seat member, a back frame hingedly connected to the seat member, a back member slidably supported on the back frame, a supporting frame, links depending from the supporting frame and supporting the the seat member on the supportin frame, and causing its return when moved om its normal position, links interconnecting the back member and the seat member, and links interconnecting theback frame and the supporting frame for shifting the seat member.

from its normal position and sliding the back memberon the-back frame when the back frame is tiltedbackward relative to the seat member and moved about the connection of the back frame with the last named links.

3. In a chair, a seat member, a back comprising a back frame and a back member, the back member slidably supported on the back frame a supporting frame, the back'frame hingedly connected to the seat member, means for shiftably supportin the seat member for forward and backwar movements relative to'the supporting" frame and for normally moving the seat member rearward and the upper end of the back member forward, means for moving the back member relative to the back frame, the back pivotally con nected to the supporting frame at a point near the lower end of the back and maintaining the said parts in substantially counterbalanced relationsin any and all' positions in which the seat member and back member are placed.

4. In a chair, a seat member, a back frame hingedly connected to the seat member, a back member slidably connected to the back frame, a supporting frame, a link connected to the lower end part of the back frame and to the supporting frame and operatin' to swing the back frame rearward by the weight of the user, means for moving the back member relative to the back frame and a link for supporting the'seat member and operating to swing the back frame forward by the weight ofthe user of the chair.

5. In a chair, a seat member, a back frame g I hingedly connected to the seat member, .a back member slidably connected to theback frame, a supporting frame, links supporting the seat member on supportin frame and operating to raise the seat mem r when. the

seat member is shifted forwardly, meanspiv- 1 otally connecting the back frame with the supporting frame for shifting the seat member, means'for shifting the back memberrele ative to theback 'frame,the weightof the seat member and'the back frame and the back member with reference to the pivot point substantially counterbalancing the pressure of the user'on the back member and the seat member in different positions of the back member and the seat'member. v

.6. In a chair, a seat member, aback frame hingedly connected to the seat member, a back member slidably connected to the back frame, a supporting frame, means for shiftv ably supporting the seat member on the supporting frame for forward and backward movements of the seat member relative to the sup orting frame, a linkpivotally connected to t e back frame near the lower end of the back member and to the supporting frame at a point substantially above the center of the side of theseat member for producing for- V ward and backward movements of the seat .niemb T. In a chair, a seat member, a back comprising aback frame hingedly connected to the said member, a back memberslidabl connected to the back frame, a supporting rame, means for shiftably supporting the seat memher on the supporting frame for forward and baclnvard movements of the seat member relative to the supporting frame,alink pivotally connected to theback frame near the lower end of the back and to the supporting frame, a second link connected to the back member near the lower end of the back member and in proximity to the connection of the first named link with the back frame and to the seater. I

S. In a chair, a seat member, a back frame hingedly connected to the seat member, aback member slidably connected to the back frame, a supporting frame, means for shiftably supporting the seatmember of the supporting frame for forward and backward movements of the seat member relative to the supporting frame, a link pivotally connected to the back frame at a point near the lower end of the back frame and to the supporting frame for producing forward and backward movements of the seat member relative to the supporting member, a second link for connecting the back member with the seat member, the ends of the forward and backward movements of the seat member relative to the supporting frame, a

second link for connecting the back member links that connect with the back frame and the I back member located in proximity to each other. whereby the point of connection of one of the links is adapted to pass the point of-connection of the other of the links in changing the back from an upright to a reclining position.

9. In a chair, a seat member, a back comprising a back frame hingedly connected to the seat member, a back member slidably connected to the back frame a supporting frame, means for shiftably supporting the seat member on the supporting frame for forward and backward movements of the seat member relative to the supporting frame, a link pivotally connected to the back frame and to the supporting frame, a second link connected to the back memberand to the seat member, the points of connection of the first'link with the supporting frame and the second link with the seat member being located substantially vertical one above the other when the back member is in substantially a vertical position, and the said links crossing each other;

. 10. In a chair, a seat member, a back frame hingedly connected to the seatmember, a back member slidably connected to the back frame, a supporting frame, a link for supporting the seat member on the supporting frame, a link pivotally connected to the back frame at a point near the lower end of the back frame and to the supporting frame for producing 

